The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-04-28
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have 10 Say About
Their Old Campaigns
SAILORS CREEK.


What Pennsylvania Soldier Saw and Did There.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The battle Of
Sailors Creek was fought in the afternoon OF
April g, 1866. Just before we made the charge
Gen. Sheridan aud Gen. Wright met in front OF
my regiment. and by the few words i caught
and by the motions Gen. Sheridan made, took
il for granted that the Object WAS TO surround
the enemy and close in on them on all sides,
and such proved 10 be the case. We were lying
down when Sheridan and Wright met, for we
were about played out with double-quieklng
over a hilly country for quite a distance. Our
rest was short, for as soon as the two Generals
parted we were ordered down a steep hill, leav-
ing behind us il pieces OF artillery TO cover our
retreat If necessary.
Al the foot of the hin we came 10 a quick
sand swamp. As soon as j put my foot on II
j knew what IL was, for had seen such places
before j immediately stepped out in front
and jumping from one bunch of grass TO an
other, reached the other side dry shod, while
many of the company got in the mire so deep
that they could not get out without assistance.
After the line all got over and reformed, the
order was given 10 throw out sllrmishers. My
Captain ordered me TO pick out five men and
20 on the skrmish-line. We advanced about
100 yards and found the enemy in force
j reported the fact back TO the line OF battle,
aud the order was given TO charge. As the line
advanced we fell into our places in the com
VhAAs anu ahtiA VT NtAN up EtbhN NlbtiN anu
through the low, scrubby pines and briers out
into the big timber and there we halted, aud
were again ordered 10 throw out slirmishers.
j took my men and advanced through the
woods about % yards i'm front of the line, and
stopped behind a tree. j could see the enemy
all moving of on a double-quick toward our
left aud turned around 10 call the attention of
one of the skirmisheis who was tree or SO
behind me, 10 their movement, but ] could see
neither skirmishers nor line of battle Think
ing the rebels were moving around TO attack
our left, ] commenced 10 fall back, but did not
go fai until / was halted by one of the rebels.
Looking through the low pines TO my right i
saw man dressed in blue, and, thinking he
mistool me for rebel i said TO him: Come
back under cover of the battery, for believe
we are hanked."
BY that time he was within guns length of
me aud shouted, Drop that gun, you Yankee
devil. on i viii blow your heart out!h
i saw mo way of escape for he had his gun
almost against my breast and his fingers on the
trigger. SO ] dropped my gun, and was ordered
TO take of my cartridge-box and haversack. j
Obcyed orders very promptly. Ny haversack
was light; all j had In u was small piece OF
raw beef, which he ate without salt or pepper.
He then ordered me 10 double-quick 10 the
rear but had just started when our guns on
the hill opened up, and in a very short time
the rebels were back in the big timber again,
alter suffering heavy loss.
They reformed their line. and n tall man
with gray hair and long gray beard came and
asked me III i knew where and how many our
men were. i told him they were all around
him, and consisted of Shemdans cavalry and
the Sixth Corps. lie walked away from me,
and he and six or eight more officers held a
short consultation, when the rebels were called
10 attention aud asked if they were willing 10
make another charge. Only one man an
n L : ].
on, but i saw Gen. Ewell and some other Off
GERS near by, and in very short time Capt.
Colt, A. A.-G. on Gen. Edwards's staff, came
riding down through the woods and when he
saw me asked me what i was doing there. i
informed him that j was a prisoner, and he
told me 10 get gun and help take these
boys out of this"
Vino took Gen. Ewoll am unable to say. All
the cavalry saw that afternoon was small
squad that came dashing along the line and
gobbled mp all the flags they could get before
the infantry had time 20 get there, and perhaps
they gobbied up Gen. Ewel too
We marched our prisoners out in field and
built fence around them for the night aud
the next morning my regiment was detailed TO
take them back 10 BurksyilIe Station, along
the Danyille Railroad, which was IL miles from
Sailors Greek. ON our way back became very
much interested in boy soldier member of
an Alabama regiment. lie wanted me 10 10
and take old Ewell" of his mule and let him
have IT, lie said tho mule belonged TO him,
and that Ewell took il from him. ] told him /
couldn't DO that but anything else / could do
Go make him comfortable i would willingly do.
de was sick, and il was raining, so ! gave him
my rubber blanket, aud when we parted al
Burksyille Station gave him the last money ]
had, - bin, and told him when lac got to
Petersburg he could buy something good "a
eat. If he happens TO see this hopeh lac will
write me and let me know how he is getting
along.-B. i. JoHNs, Corporal, Co. A, 49Lh Pa,
Cbambcrsburg, Pa.